You might think you've stumbled upon classic novel adaptation.

You haven't.

You might think you've stumbled across some weird ass re-imagining of American Psycho.

You haven't.

Heck, you might not know what to think.

This is the dilemma with writer/director Jim Vendiola's 14-minute short film Violets, a film said to be inspired by a true story and here telling the story of two reclusive, socially awkward sisters who quietly await the advent of their incredibly twisted plan.

Played with calm, cool, and collect by Annie Boldon and Cassandra Jones, Violets is a quietly twisted delight of psychological thrills, horror, and I'd dare say a healthy dose of incredibly dark humor. Vendiola has crafted a tale that succeeds largely because of its splendid simplicity, trusting that the subtle nuances that float between Boldon and Jones will be enough to make it all work.

It does.

The original music by Calibrated Crematorium is, as one might expect from their name, a symphony that haunts and broods and, at times, nearly suffocates yet never dominates the film itself. The lensing by Richard Diver and Tony Moorman excels as it follows and sways with the gentle meanderings of these two seemingly demure yet mystifying young women.

Violets reminds me of that creepy little film that you always find in indie/underground or horror fests that no one's ever heard of yet everyone who has seen it can never forget it. It's a film that looks, feels, and even sounds like and old school horror flick meets contemporary character study. It's difficult to describe, at least without giving it all away, but impossible to forget.

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic